Elliptical vs Treadmill?

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skeltonblues
skeltonblues Posts: 45 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I hear good things on both but actually purchasing for home which is best?

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  • scraver2003
    scraver2003 Posts: 528 Member
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    The one that you will use is the best. Have you used an elliptical or a treadmill? I would recommend trying some workouts on each to see which you like better. (Some gyms offer a free one week trial that you could use to test out elliptical vs. treadmill.)

    I love running, so I have a treadmill. The elliptical is like mind torture to me. My friend has an elliptical and loves it. It really is about preference.
  • LovelyIvy466
    LovelyIvy466 Posts: 387 Member
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    It all depends on your preferences. I love my elliptical, mainly because I have a bad knee. Treadmills are never going to be my thing.
  • skeltonblues
    skeltonblues Posts: 45 Member
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    Yes I used both just as I'm getting older many physicians have said elliptical is best to help pressure on joints put I like a treadmill too.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
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    I would say a treadmill because a treadmill actually trains you to do something that you can use in your daily life.

  • ksy1969
    ksy1969 Posts: 700 Member
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    skeltonblues wrote: »
    Yes I used both just as I'm getting older many physicians have said elliptical is best to help pressure on joints put I like a treadmill too.

    Pfft!! you are not old.

    Me personally, if I am going to run I want to do it outside. If I run inside on a treadmill there has to be people around me doing the same or it just sucks. Not that I am talking to them, just seems to add a little more drive. I don't have that issue on the elliptical. I can do an hour on the elliptical without a problem.

    When it comes to caloric burn, I wear a Polar HRM when doing both and the burn is about the same. I will add though, I make sure I am working, not doing the lowest setting talking to people around me. Heart rate is elevated as if I am running outside. I could talk but it wouldn't be a quick conversation.

  • futuremommyt
    futuremommyt Posts: 26 Member
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    I have an elliptical and love it. It gives a little arm workout too, and it just "feels" easier, even though I sweat more on it than a treadmill and get my heart racing faster. It's simply that it's less impact which I love.

    Be careful though. If you get an elliptical, make sure to keep pushing yourself and increasing resistance. Too often people kinda glide on them rather than upping resistance -- not much of a workout.
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,324 Member
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    I use both but I love me the treadmill!
  • msjohnsondp
    msjohnsondp Posts: 1
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    Both works for me. The settings make all the difference.
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
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    Hornsby wrote: »
    I would say a treadmill because a treadmill actually trains you to do something that you can use in your daily life.

    This.

    The elliptical forces you into a particular stride length whether or not it is appropriate for you.
  • bulk_n_cut
    bulk_n_cut Posts: 389 Member
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    one point to consider if all other pros and cons end up on 50/50 for you: elliptical is significantly quieter
  • skeltonblues
    skeltonblues Posts: 45 Member
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    This is all very true kind of 50/50 it seems
  • GoingBrowntown
    GoingBrowntown Posts: 23 Member
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    My parents bought a treadmill but I can rarely use the thing because it's so loud. We're putting it in the garage soon, where I'll never go, because spiders.

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